How can we eliminate the stigma surrounding special education?
Reputable Website/Blog
Summary According to the article, there is definitely a stigma surrounding special education. Students look down upon other students needing extra help. When parents are informed for the first time about their child’s need, it is normal for them to experience guilt and feelings of failure in regards to the raising of their son or daughter. In addition, they feel anxiety over the inevitable issues their child will face in the upcoming school years. The author of the article is a teacher in a full inclusion classroom where students of all abilities work together, and she saw firsthand how students with special needs were bullied by their peers. However, she has a positive outlook as a teacher. She believes that all students are equal as people, some just needed extra help with different subjects, depending on the person. One way the school worked was through “team-teaching,” a method where general education teachers and special education teachers worked together to plan lessons and be responsible for students. In addition, teachers must have strict “no bullying” rules that they enforce among the students. Another effective method is creating events such as “no name calling week" that draws attention to bad attitudes and tries to correct them.
Reaction The objective is to eliminate this stigma regarding students with special needs. If parents and students are both having negative thoughts when special education is addressed, obviously there is something wrong. Parents need to realize that each child is born an individual and special education doesn't equal failure. Faculty in schools must put students wellbeing first. When general education teachers and special education teachers work together, it makes for a more inclusive atmosphere and the students with special needs don’t feel as singled out. Learning becomes easier for them because they feel a part of the entire classroom instead of feeling different. Teachers need to implement teaching techniques like this to encourage the inclusion of all abilities.
Summary Children in schools have a federal right to assistance if they are diagnosed with special needs. Some schools fail to take this obligation as seriously as they should. For example, in the article one student had to wait two years to receive an aid when he was in need due to the incapability of the school. In addition, some teachers who fail to understand students with special needs treat them unfairly and unethically. For example, at a Brooklyn Charter School, students were disciplined for behaviors resulting from their disabilities. Students have been sent down a level such as from a third grade classroom to a second grade classroom as a punishment for “misbehavior” when their actions are uncontrollable. There is now a lawsuit against the school for their lack of care towards special education students.
Reaction Teachers need to be educated on how to work with special education students. It starts with the teachers and faculty who pass along their attitudes and actions to the students. Teachers need to create a kind of classroom that caters to the individual needs of each student and be able to adjust depending on the situation. If all teachers knew how to handle students with special needs, they would be able to understand that every one can succeed but each one requires care, understanding, and patience. It is heartbreaking to read about the mistreatment of students, especially those who need the most care and compassion. Schools can help reduce the stigma by making sure their teachers are trained to handle all types of students in a professional way. When teachers try to punish students in inappropriate ways, it results in unnecessary reactions that cause both the special needs students and others students to see the special needs student in a bad way.
Summary According to the article, in some locations schools are using restraint and seclusion as methods for dealing with students’s misbehavior. For example, a boy diagnosed with autism was secluded for refusing to greet a visitor and a four year old was physically restrained for throwing puzzle pieces. Many people have a belief that children with disabilities are uncontrollable and they also believe that drastic measures must be taken to “calm them down.” For example, a thirteen year old boy was locked in a room until he calmed down even though he spoke of and made motions to attempt suicide. Schools are supposed to report restraints and 75% of the reported restraints are for children with disabilities. Theses restraints lead to injury, even 20 deaths.
Reaction When working with special education students, some teachers believe that drastic measures must be taken in certain circumstances. Some special education students are treated unethically because its easier for the teachers to deal with problems in the wrong way. Although it isn't the norm, it is sad to hear that some teachers try to get away with despicable behavior towards students. A common belief is that special education students are worthless and it doesn't matter how much they learn because they will never be as good as others. This is a negative and uneducated way of looking at life. There needs to be strict laws about appropriate and inappropriate ways to interact with people with disabilities. There must be an intervention to stop
According to the article, there are many ways to Kauffman, James M. N.p., n.d. Web. Copy & paste citation
Jstor.org
Summary The following article gives advice on how to reduce the stigma. First, its important to limit the terms used to distinguish a disability. We need to avoid labeling people based on their abilities. That being said, it is okay to have individualized teaching depending on the student because when a teacher figures out what works best for the students, progress can be made. There is no shame in having different methods to learning. Differences are what makes each person unique and there is no reason to ignore differences when teaching. There are lots of different levels of disability and success can be measured in many ways. Some people believe that students with special needs cannot make as much progress and be as successful. However, progress can be made by everyone.
Reaction This article has great advice. Once you recognize that special education exists and benefits countless people, it is easier to accept. Acceptance is the first step towards eliminating the stigma. Once people realize that special education is just a way for some people to succeed and that everyone gets help towards their own success, people won’t look down on others as much. Changing your mindset is a process and everybody can become educated and work on that mindset.
Kauffman, J. M., & Badar, J.. (2013). How We Might Make Special Education for Students with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders Less Stigmatizing. Behavioral Disorders, 39(1), 16–27. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23890740
Summary Article from CQ Research Reporter
Summary The main idea of the article is that students are bullied for being different. Many times children with special needs are looked at as different than their peers which can lead to verbal and physical abuse. The article says "Half of high school students said they bullied someone in the past year, and 47 percent said they had been bullied, teased or taunted in a way that seriously upset them in the past year." Cyberbullying has also played a huge part in interactions and there can be lasting effects. Several people have committed suicide after experiencing too much bullying to handle.
Reactions Special needs students seem to be at a higher risk for bullying. If people look at them as inferior or "less of a person," serious problems could result. That is why it is crucial for teachers to create a classroom that has no tolerance for any type of bullying, verbal, physical, emotional, or cyberbulling. Instead of shaming and picking on others for their differences, they need to work on celebrating their achievements and personality.
What did your research teach you about your original question? How would you sum up what you've learned?
Overall, I learned a lot by researching special education. Unfortunately there is a stigma surrounding special education. Students in special education are looked at as inferior than others. The attitude can come from peers, teachers and faculty, and even family. Teachers must be the leaders in the classroom by showing all students in a positive light. Teachers should be educated on how to interact with, teach, and correct the behavior of students of varying abilities. When teachers are educated on how to interact with special education students, they can build the classroom to eliminate stigmas and create a welcoming environment where success is achievable by everyone.
How does this research help us identify or refine a strategy to improve schools in Rhode Island?
How does what you learned in your research inform efforts to reform schools in Rhode Island? Schools need to reform the way they look at special education. It should never be viewed in a negative light. Intervention programs must be provided immediately to qualifying students and teachers need to understand the correct ways to respond to student behavior. Special education needs to be presented as just one of the many paths to success and not as a way of "going through the motions" for those who can't learn as fast as others. With these reforms, everyone will see special education in a positive way and still see each student as an equal individual.
How can we eliminate the stigma surrounding special education?
Reputable Website/Blog
Summary
According to the article, there is definitely a stigma surrounding special education. Students look down upon other students needing extra help. When parents are informed for the first time about their child’s need, it is normal for them to experience guilt and feelings of failure in regards to the raising of their son or daughter. In addition, they feel anxiety over the inevitable issues their child will face in the upcoming school years. The author of the article is a teacher in a full inclusion classroom where students of all abilities work together, and she saw firsthand how students with special needs were bullied by their peers. However, she has a positive outlook as a teacher. She believes that all students are equal as people, some just needed extra help with different subjects, depending on the person. One way the school worked was through “team-teaching,” a method where general education teachers and special education teachers worked together to plan lessons and be responsible for students. In addition, teachers must have strict “no bullying” rules that they enforce among the students. Another effective method is creating events such as “no name calling week" that draws attention to bad attitudes and tries to correct them.
Reaction
The objective is to eliminate this stigma regarding students with special needs. If parents and students are both having negative thoughts when special education is addressed, obviously there is something wrong. Parents need to realize that each child is born an individual and special education doesn't equal failure. Faculty in schools must put students wellbeing first. When general education teachers and special education teachers work together, it makes for a more inclusive atmosphere and the students with special needs don’t feel as singled out. Learning becomes easier for them because they feel a part of the entire classroom instead of feeling different. Teachers need to implement teaching techniques like this to encourage the inclusion of all abilities.
The Stigma of Special Education. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2015, from http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/finding_common_ground/2011/08/the_stigma_of_special_education.html
New York Times
Summary
Children in schools have a federal right to assistance if they are diagnosed with special needs. Some schools fail to take this obligation as seriously as they should. For example, in the article one student had to wait two years to receive an aid when he was in need due to the incapability of the school. In addition, some teachers who fail to understand students with special needs treat them unfairly and unethically. For example, at a Brooklyn Charter School, students were disciplined for behaviors resulting from their disabilities. Students have been sent down a level such as from a third grade classroom to a second grade classroom as a punishment for “misbehavior” when their actions are uncontrollable. There is now a lawsuit against the school for their lack of care towards special education students.
Reaction
Teachers need to be educated on how to work with special education students. It starts with the teachers and faculty who pass along their attitudes and actions to the students. Teachers need to create a kind of classroom that caters to the individual needs of each student and be able to adjust depending on the situation. If all teachers knew how to handle students with special needs, they would be able to understand that every one can succeed but each one requires care, understanding, and patience. It is heartbreaking to read about the mistreatment of students, especially those who need the most care and compassion. Schools can help reduce the stigma by making sure their teachers are trained to handle all types of students in a professional way. When teachers try to punish students in inappropriate ways, it results in unnecessary reactions that cause both the special needs students and others students to see the special needs student in a bad way.
Harris, E. (2015, November 5). Lawsuit Accuses Brooklyn Charter School of Failing to Provide Special Education Services. Retrieved December 2, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/06/nyregion/lawsuit-accuses-brooklyn-charter-school-of-failing-to-provide-special-education-services.html
Newsweek
Summary
According to the article, in some locations schools are using restraint and seclusion as methods for dealing with students’s misbehavior. For example, a boy diagnosed with autism was secluded for refusing to greet a visitor and a four year old was physically restrained for throwing puzzle pieces. Many people have a belief that children with disabilities are uncontrollable and they also believe that drastic measures must be taken to “calm them down.” For example, a thirteen year old boy was locked in a room until he calmed down even though he spoke of and made motions to attempt suicide. Schools are supposed to report restraints and 75% of the reported restraints are for children with disabilities. Theses restraints lead to injury, even 20 deaths.
Reaction
When working with special education students, some teachers believe that drastic measures must be taken in certain circumstances. Some special education students are treated unethically because its easier for the teachers to deal with problems in the wrong way. Although it isn't the norm, it is sad to hear that some teachers try to get away with despicable behavior towards students. A common belief is that special education students are worthless and it doesn't matter how much they learn because they will never be as good as others. This is a negative and uneducated way of looking at life. There needs to be strict laws about appropriate and inappropriate ways to interact with people with disabilities. There must be an intervention to stop
(n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2015, from http://www.newsweek.com/connecticut-school-restrained-one-child-700-times-one-year-306464
According to the article, there are many ways to
Kauffman, James M. N.p., n.d. Web.
Copy & paste citation
Jstor.org
Summary
The following article gives advice on how to reduce the stigma. First, its important to limit the terms used to distinguish a disability. We need to avoid labeling people based on their abilities. That being said, it is okay to have individualized teaching depending on the student because when a teacher figures out what works best for the students, progress can be made. There is no shame in having different methods to learning. Differences are what makes each person unique and there is no reason to ignore differences when teaching. There are lots of different levels of disability and success can be measured in many ways. Some people believe that students with special needs cannot make as much progress and be as successful. However, progress can be made by everyone.
Reaction
This article has great advice. Once you recognize that special education exists and benefits countless people, it is easier to accept. Acceptance is the first step towards eliminating the stigma. Once people realize that special education is just a way for some people to succeed and that everyone gets help towards their own success, people won’t look down on others as much. Changing your mindset is a process and everybody can become educated and work on that mindset.
Kauffman, J. M., & Badar, J.. (2013). How We Might Make Special Education for Students with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders Less Stigmatizing. Behavioral Disorders, 39(1), 16–27. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23890740
Summary Article from CQ Research Reporter
Summary
The main idea of the article is that students are bullied for being different. Many times children with special needs are looked at as different than their peers which can lead to verbal and physical abuse. The article says "Half of high school students said they bullied someone in the past year, and 47 percent said they had been bullied, teased or taunted in a way that seriously upset them in the past year." Cyberbullying has also played a huge part in interactions and there can be lasting effects. Several people have committed suicide after experiencing too much bullying to handle.
Reactions
Special needs students seem to be at a higher risk for bullying. If people look at them as inferior or "less of a person," serious problems could result. That is why it is crucial for teachers to create a classroom that has no tolerance for any type of bullying, verbal, physical, emotional, or cyberbulling. Instead of shaming and picking on others for their differences, they need to work on celebrating their achievements and personality.
Preventing Bullying. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2015, from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2010121000&type=hitlist&num=2
Overall Reaction to Your Research
What did your research teach you about your original question? How would you sum up what you've learned?Overall, I learned a lot by researching special education. Unfortunately there is a stigma surrounding special education. Students in special education are looked at as inferior than others. The attitude can come from peers, teachers and faculty, and even family. Teachers must be the leaders in the classroom by showing all students in a positive light. Teachers should be educated on how to interact with, teach, and correct the behavior of students of varying abilities. When teachers are educated on how to interact with special education students, they can build the classroom to eliminate stigmas and create a welcoming environment where success is achievable by everyone.
How does this research help us identify or refine a strategy to improve schools in Rhode Island?
How does what you learned in your research inform efforts to reform schools in Rhode Island?Schools need to reform the way they look at special education. It should never be viewed in a negative light. Intervention programs must be provided immediately to qualifying students and teachers need to understand the correct ways to respond to student behavior. Special education needs to be presented as just one of the many paths to success and not as a way of "going through the motions" for those who can't learn as fast as others. With these reforms, everyone will see special education in a positive way and still see each student as an equal individual.